Choosing a Breed
Picking the right breed of dog is an inherently personal decision. There are however, a few important guidelines to think about. First is size. Large dogs needs more room and a lot of exercise (although it is worth noting that some small dog breeds also need lots of exercise). My veterinarian at the Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital in Denver always says that the most overlooked consideration when buying a dog is the amount of needed exercise. If you don't have the time to walk your dog a long way, a smaller breed might be the right choice. But even more important than size in choosing the right breed is behavior. All breeds have unique behavioral characteristics and you should always research these traits before deciding upon a breed. For example, while terriers can be great with children, they can also be difficult to train. Sporting breeds are generally easy to train but require a lot of exercise. There are hundreds of breeds and crossbreds to choose from these days, and doing the research can really pay off when deciding upon the right dog for you.
The Cost
Unfortunately, some perspective dog buyers focus too much on the "cuteness" factor and too little on the cost factor. To begin with, buying a dog isn't cheap. Buying a puppy from a breeder can range anywhere from $300 to upwards of $1000 dollars. After the price of the dog, veterinary costs are usually the most significant part of the cost of owning a dog. The American Veterinary Medical Association and my Local Denver Veterinarian agree, sophisticated surgeries can cost well over $1000 and regular checkups are certainly not free. You may want to consider taking out a pet insurance policy to help avoid surprise costs. A lesser cost to consider is the cost of food. Feeding costs can vary greatly depending on both amount and brand of food. A 30-40 lb dog should be able to be fed for around $8 a week. Check out Web MD Pets for good recommendations about pet diets.
Pedigree
Don't believe the rumor that crossbred dogs are necessarily healthier than purebreds. Your vet would likely tell you that crossbreds can suffer from inherited diseases as well. In fact, an advantage of a purebred dog is that you know exactly what you're getting in terms of size and behavior. Crossbreds on the other hand can be less expensive and can have a certain behavior more suitable to your lifestyle. Some crossbreeds are better suited to people susceptible to allergies while offering the same charm of a normally allergenic dog.
Male or Female?
Choosing the gender of your dog is a decision to make early on in the process. Males and female dogs tend to have different outlooks on life. Sometimes males are more outgoing and are on average harder to train (but usually more responsive when trained). Overall, females are usually a better "family" pet. They tend to be less aggressive and don't wander like males do. Females also seem to be slightly more loving towards a human family. Once again, breed is the most important decision and matters much more in terms of behavior than gender does.
Making the Decision
Take your time when making the decision. Be sure you meet the dog and spend some time with it. (Make certain you are not buying from a puppy mill - see my earlier post). If possible, also try to meat the puppy's mother and father. Genetics is an important influence on your dogs health so gather as much information as possible by talking with the breeder about family history of disease. Different people say different things about what age to buy the puppy at. My Veterinarian in Denver recommends 8-weeks. This seems to be the perfect age to start training, but not too early that it disrupts the important early stage in puppy development. Most importantly, have fun with the process. Picking the right puppy is an exciting decision and the result is sure to bring joy to your life.
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